Steve King's debate 'notes'

10/11/12 3:40 PM EDT

Iowa GOP Rep. Steve King debated his Democratic opponent, Christie Vilsack, on Tuesday night — and it looks like he brought notes.

In footage of the debate (screenshot below, or at about 9:30), King opens his hand and there are handwritten notes on it. The debate rules said neither candidate was allowed to bring notes.

King campaign spokesman Jimmy Centers said he had "no idea" what the notes on King's hand actually said that night, but that the congressman has a "habit" of writing himself reminders on his hand and that Tuesday was no different.

“The congressman’s got a habit of writing things on his hand. He does it when he’s on the House floor, he does it when he’s campaigning, he does it when he’s with constituents," Centers said. "Tuesday he was at the Romney rally in Van Meter, he visited his mother in the nursing home, and then his wife reminded him to smile and he drew a smiley face on his finger.”

“If he doesn’t wash his hands good enough, he probably has notes from yesterday," Centers added.